KARACHI’S famous Nishtar Park has turned into a barren piece of land owing to the administrative negligence of the civic authorities. This green belt is the only recreational place for the densely populated adjoining localities of Soldier Bazar, Numaish, Lines Area and Parsi Colony.

This historic park and public meeting place is fast deteriorating because its corners are being used as garbage dumping sites. Drug addicts and vagrants are loitering at all hours and their numbers increase after sunset. People now avoid the place because of the unhealthy environment.

I am a university student who resides in the vicinity and used to visit this park often. I have pleasant memories of this park as a child. I am writing this letter on my smart phone while sitting on a dilapidated and broken bench of the park.

The civic authorities are requested to save and restore this park.

Waqar Ali

Karachi

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2017